GDB 18:0 Wrap Up – Oilers @ Kings

The last time these two teams played the Oilers managed to keep it interesting, and the final result down to the wire after digging themselves an early hole. You remember the game. You remember the ‘no goal’ call right at the end. The problem is that both Connor McDavid and Ryan Nugent-Hopkins were playing that night and the Oilers still lost. Tonight, the Oilers had to try and figure this thing out with neither those guys in the lineup. I’m not going to lie to you, my expectations couldn’t have been much lower.

In our pre-season preview not one of the OilersNation writers predicted that the Oilers would make the playoffs. That being said, I don’t think any of us could have expected the season to start out this badly. It’s not just bad plays or decisions, it’s bad luck too. When Connor McDavid went down it took the wind out of all of our sails. Add in the flu that knocked Lil Nugey out of tonight’s game combined with the general lack of decent defenseman and that’s a good mix for a bad night. Amazingly this game was way more entertaining than I think anyone could have expected.

The great thing about sports is that the expected never seems to end up that way. Who would have thought that the Oilers would have been able to make a game out playing the first place (in the Pacific) Kings without their top two centreman? Regardless, what should have been points in the standings ended up wasted because of dumb mistakes. Anton Lander took a miserable penalty with only minutes to go and Talbot couldn’t bail the team out. Instead of pocketing a pity point and going to overtime the Oilers found a way to sabotage themselves again. Last place is ours.

Wrap it first. Always.

THE BRIGHT SIDE

Taylor Hall was a force again tonight. The Kings were struggling to control him all night, and it’s amazing that he didn’t put up more than two points. Hall registered an assist on Draisaitl’s goal and tied the game up late in the third before the wheels fell off again. He’s playing some of the best hockey of his career right now.

Draisaitl maintained his hot streak by scoring his fifth goal of the season on a nice feed from Taylor Hall. Those two have been magic together. Draisaitl wasn’t done there as he assisted on Teddy Purcell’s second period goal. He is a man possessed.

Teddy Purcell score his second goal of the season on a nice little wrister from the high slot. It would definitely be nice if Purcell could keep finding a way to cash in on some of his chances.

Despite having the top two centremen out with flu and injury the Oilers were still able to generate offensive chances. Way more than I would have expected, anyway. I think being able to generate anything against the Kings with the roster the Oilers iced deserves mentioning.

The Oilers technically killed off all three penalty kills they faced but LA scored the winning goal immediately after Lander’s second penalty expired.

THE FACE PALMERS

I don’t blame Mark Messier for calling Connor McDavid all the time. I miss him too.

Nuge didn’t play tonight because of the flu. Losing Nuge for the night was the absolute last thing the Oilers needed.

Andrej Sekera got knocked off the puck on the first goal. He needs to put in a better effort to maintaining good body position.

How many times have the Oilers been done by two goals after the first period lately? It’s tough to win hockey games when you’re spotting the team a pair early.

Eric Gryba was briefly benched in the second period after he got caught puck watching on LA’s third goal.

Anton Lander’s miracle season continues. He took two penalties in the third period, and he’s not producing nearly enough to justify these kind of mistakes. He has to turn this season around or he could find himself back in Bakersfield very soon. It starts with regrowing the pirate facial hair.

Underwhelming return to the net by Cam Talbot. I’d say he wears the goat horns on the first and fourth goals. He has to be better and everyone knows it. I still believe that he can be, but it doesn’t look great right now. Talbot finished the night with 24 saves and an .857 save%.

During the second period my Sportsnet feed sounded like it was receiving alien signals. I don’t know what that noise was but it was annoying and made me want to kick children.

EDMONTON FOOD BANK CHARITY AUCTION

A few days back, Nation real estate aficionado Adam Dirksen suggested that we partner up to raise some money for the Edmonton Food Bank going into the Christmas season. We couldn’t have agreed more, and so we got to work. With Adam’s tickets in hand, we contacted our partners to see if they wanted to be involved and as always they jumped at the opportunity to help out.

Over the next few days we will be holding an auction to benefit the Edmonton Food Bank, and give you an Oilers experience to remember. What are we talking about? We put together a package that includes two gold seats (with club access) to the Oilers vs Devils on Friday night, a ride to and from the game in the brand new Nation Limo, $50 in Pint gift cards, Oodle Noodle gift cards, and NationGear by Print Machine to wear to the game.

The auction runs straight through until Thursday (November 19th) at noon with every penny going directly to the Edmonton Food Bank. We will be updating the bids in all GDB and Wrap Up articles, and on Twitter, until the auction closes. The high bidder will be notified via email to arrange for payment and transfer of the tickets.

Reading these comments you’d think the Oilers were playing the game perfectly healthy with no key players out with injuries or the flu. I get it, they’re losing way more than they’re winning, but they appear to be in the game a lot more than in the past. You’re having much fewer dumb plays while on the PP ending up as short handed goals. Our bottom two forward lines are full of mediocre players, but our top lines are depleted yet still having an impact.

I’m not happy with the losing but I think once healthy with ‘most’ of our impact players back in the lineup we’ll be playing at least .500 hockey.

Something is preventing this help from stepping in on their behalf….what is hidden behind closed doors?This is a Group sized impediment because the Angels dont judge but they never enter unless welcomed .

What debt to the Good Lady Karma has Mac-L inherited and failed to pay up on?Or what baggage did he bring with him which combined with existing bad Karma caused this Angelic disconnect.

To recieve this level of ELEVATING Karmtic remedition the Oilers HAD TO HAVE picked on someone severely disadvantaged….they must have kicked a proverbial Puppy….done something downright wrong on the most basic levels they cannot just walk away from,even the Angels have turned their heads away until reparations are actioned.Oh yes baby the Oilers owe someone something of this there is no doubt….but only they know how and who to offer restitutions to,they remain the Masters of their own Fates..

I didnt believe in the Voo-Doo Curse bad Karm stuff until I saw Mac-L sucked into the Vortex so easily and quickly and absolutely,hes not struggeling yet but hes in deep .

For the love of God-Country-and Backbacon someone stop the pain….just pay TheBadMan however much it takes to make the pain go way,ok Darryl?lol.

Whats it gonna take ,a Candle-light Vigil? A figurative Sacrifice of a Dozen Donuts under a full Moon to the Ghosts of the Oilers gone?lol